Dean Denies Offering Clark VP Spot

DES MOINES (Reuters) - Howard Dean on Monday denied asking retired Gen. Wesley Clark to be his running mate should he win the Democratic presidential nomination.
"No, I did not," Dean told Reuters in a telephone interview. "I think Wes is a good guy. I think he'd be a good running mate, but I think it would be highly foolish of me to offer anybody the running mate spot."

Dean is leading in the polls for the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses and the Jan. 27 New Hampshire primary.

"I don't have the nomination yet. Not one vote has been cast. We're working really, really hard in Iowa. We want support there in the caucuses, but until it looks like I am going to be the nominee I am not going to be offering anybody the vice presidency," said Dean.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=4032805

Everyone on Earth knows he offered General Clark the spot. Why would Clark make that up? Why else would Dean have met w/ him three times before Clark declared his candidacy? Why is Dean backpedaling now? Lame.

I wonder which one is the "she" in this scenario?

were "Clark supporters". Both, I think, freely admit that Clark was a consultant so the meetings are explaned.

Why would Clark make it up? It makes him look a little more important, I guess. Or maybe he misinterpreted some casual conversation to be more than it was. He did only say it was "dangled" and "sort of" discussed.

What this is about is Clark pulling away the Dean/Clark option that the Dean camp put out there to shore up Dean's weakness on National Security. I have been on several Dean Blogs and it's like Dean/Clark has become part of the Dean campaign. A lot of people on the fence for Dean are now less likely to put support behind Dean because Clark won't be on the ticket. Dean desperately needs someone on the ticket who can shore up his weakness on National Security in the middle of the war on Terror. If not I don't see how he can be perceived as a viable candidate. Clark's team realized that Clark is the second choice of most Dean people but with him off the ticket for sure Dean becomes less interesting all buy himself and Clark begings to look better. Smart move by the Clark people!

when did we hit "the middle"? Is it half way over? Whew! That's a load off...
Dean doesn't need Clark.

Uh, I don't think so. Clark hadn't even announced for President when this rumor was floated. And there were so many Dean people who were yammering on about how Clark was going to be Dean's running mate. Now they're accusing Clark of lying. Go figure.

MzPip
:dem:

snipped from US News:
And forget about that talk that all the retired four-star general and former NATO boss wants is the veep nomination. Supporters say that's a dirty-tricks campaign pushed by rival Howard Dean who's scared of a Clark candidacy.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/old/sept0302.html

See? supporters charging another campaign without any facts.

Dean had said that Clark would be on anybody's short list, but if you can find any sourced site where Dean (or Trippi) discussed any specific VP offer to Clark, I'd be very surprised.

I saw Clark being asked about this; he didn't make a thing of it at all; he did say that in September (before Clark had announced) that Dean had asked him if he would consider the vice presidency.

This seems to be blown out of proportion (per usual) by the media who wish to keep up this Clark/Dean crap.

Since EVERYONE KNOWS this (much like everyone knows Iraq had WMDs), it must be an empirical fact...guess I missed the tape recorded conversation.


Your statement is highly erroneous and presumptuous.


Not sure what my take on the situation is. Such a rumor may help Clark show importance. Such a rumor may also help Dean, as it positions him firmly in the frontrunner status, and lets Clark supporters assume if they vote for Dean, they will also get their man too. I think if you look at Dean's statement, technically, it would be true: that being, he literally couldn't offer anyone a VP runnign mate slot, as he is not nominated yet, nor does he have the authority to appoint such a position YET. Wether there was talk of a hypothetical scenerio in which Dean was nominated, who knows, who cares. Not sure why Clark's team is making this such a big deal.

I do hope not about Clark. He is one candidate, running as either VP or P, that would prevent me from voting alltogether, for reasons Ive allready explained.

I'm on Earth and I was not present at that Dean/Clark VP offer meeting. I heard the pundits making remarks when Clark visited the Dean camp, but nothing was ever announced in public by the Dean campaign. Clark wasn't even running yet. So stop spreading pundit's lies.

remember when he said he concealed his records because he was protecting AIDS patients when his campaign mgr already said it was for political reasons.....and the day after he said it the Boston paper found letters that he already released that had private medical information.

Dean didn't "lie" about the concealed records. He used the AIDS patient scenario merely as an EXAMPLE of why records may be sealed. He has nothing to hide and has said as much. He did not hire a lawyer to protect any of that information and said if the judge decides the records shouldn't be sealed then so be it. Dean isn't doing anything unusual or sneaky with his records like AWOL has done countless times.

btw, I think it's pretty distasteful for a dem to attack another dem candidate. all you are doing is helping the repukes.

dems doing all the nattering about this. I wonder.

poop

eom

To sink Dean in the polls and bolster his own position, of course.

Only Dean and Clark know what happened there and right now it's "he said he said". Which one is lying? I say the one that got the advantage out of the press. Clark.

"Lick Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

Democratic candidate Dean asks Wesley Clark to be running mate
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
12 September 2003


Howard Dean, presidential front-runner in the Democratic Party, has asked retired General Wesley Clark to join his campaign, should the former Nato commander decide not to join the race himself.

Here is the site:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=442481

There's no source in that snip and there's no source in the WP article released at the same time.

eom

Ever consider the possibility that there are slots other than VP? Remember that Dean assembled a team of foreign policy advisors for his campaign? Is it possible that he wanted Clark to join that team and mentioned a hypothetical for if he gets the nomination?

Right?

Rove also tried to get CNN to fire Clark.

Right?

You think Lieberman can beat Bush? If the country wants another conservative in the White House, they'll keep Bush in power. Lieberman has a worse chance of beating Bush than Al Sharpton.

The last thing we need is someone soft on defense. Lieberman is moral,represents more of middle america, and understands terrorism. He is more out of Kennedy's mold and believes in a strong defense. Terrorism and the economy will be the two key issues and saying we should roll back 100% of the tax cuts isn't going to help us win over voters.

70% of which favored the Iraq war. This is a middle America I am not content to live in. We need a candidate willing to reach out, realign the middle, teah these ignorant masses, and pull them left. No longer should we pander to the growing conservitism in America. Thanks but no thanks.

security is bush - please don't ever forget that and no, I don't like Lieberman

neither Clark or Dean actually said what the news reported that was originally said - just pundits trying to create problems and "news" where there is none. Better question might be "who is bush's vp" We haven't seen him in ages but heard he was at a "canned hunt" Does anyone have pictures?

I saw a small story in the paper about this, I thought "who cares?", but then predicted that a big deal was going to be made out of this.

I AM surprised, however, that DUers are going along with this non-scandal. I really don't know why Dean supporters, Clark supporters, or anyone else would think this matters.

To prove Dean is LYING!

DTH

It would be informative.

"Lick Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

And you assume that it means he wants him as his running mate. Dean said nice things to me when I met him..like "Nice to see you again" and "Thanks for coming out to the event" Does he want me to be Secretary of State?

I'm sorry Clark hasn't been in the Headlines lately...no reason to start silly rumors.

One thing this action could do is keep Dean from asking Clark to serve with him at the convention...who wants a VP-wannabe as Sec. of Defense?!

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

rw smears don't defuse the lies...many dems think the same

:)

The only liar I see out there lying with a cowboy gun is Bushee.
What's this western shit picture of a gun with Deans's name on it?
We all know that the freepers always refer to Bush as their little straight shooting cowboy.
What brings Dean onto the cowboy scene?
You must be trippin.
Dean's from Vermont.
Oh wait, cowboy Bushee is from Conneticut.
So how'd he git that dad burned accent anyway?

in case anyone wonders:
http://www.democrats.com/view.cfm?id=6687

Howard Dean, presidential front-runner in the Democratic Party, has asked retired General Wesley Clark to join his campaign, should the former Nato commander decide not to join the race himself. The move will strengthen speculation that if Mr Dean wins the nomination, he will select General Clark as his running mate to challenge George Bush in 2004.

Mr Dean's campaign officials confirmed the men had a private meeting in California at the weekend. Neither side would give details, but General Clark told The Washington Post it had been "a complete tour of the horizon", implying that the vice- presidency had been discussed.

There has been speculation that General Clark's public musings on whether to make a run for the White House mask his true ambition, of the vice-presidency. Though General Clark has been in contact with other candidates, for many analysts a Dean-Clark tandem has always seemed to make special sense.

It would combine Mr Dean's populist grassroots appeal with the retired general's military standing and expertise in foreign policy and national security - a vital area because of 11 September, but one in which the former Vermont governor has no experience.

An indication of possible pitfalls awaiting Mr Dean came this week with his throwaway remark that the US "should not take sides" in the Middle East conflict, and that Israel would have to give up an "enormous" number of settlements as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians. The comments left the powerful Jewish lobby aghast.

Senior Democrats in Congress, led by Nancy Pelosi, wrote to Mr Dean telling him not to rock the boat. In Tuesday's presidential debate in Baltimore, Joe Lieberman - who trails Mr Dean - accused him of overturning "50 years of US foreign policy" pursued by Democratic and Republican administrations alike.

Mr Lieberman's attack will be the first of many this autumn as Mr Dean's rivals seek to chip away his lead before the first primary votes in January. Media scrutiny will also concentrate on alleged policy "flipflops" by the front-runner, on issues ranging from trade policy and pensions to Cuba.

Mr Dean is also under assault for his promise to repeal Mr Bush's tax cuts in their entirety, rather than just cuts benefiting the very rich.

For the moment, though, Mr Dean has the initiative. A poll yesterday showed he had moved into the lead in Iowa, whose caucuses on 12 January kick off the primary campaign, while he is far ahead in the silent "money primary" as well. Propelled by a huge internet operation, he is likely to raise between $11m and $15m (£6.9m-£9.4m) this quarter, a record by any Democrat in modern times.

But the immediate spotlight is on General Clark. The 58-year-old former Rhodes Scholar and Nato commander during the Kosovo conflict is due to announce a decision within the next week, possibly when he makes a speech in Iowa on 19 September.

Those close to him say he wants to run but that he is not sure whether he has left it too late. In truth, a shadow Clark campaign exists already across the country, in the shape of two internet organisations, which has raised $1m and signed up thousands of activists.

As a southerner, with telegenic looks, a glittering career in the armed services and a moderate policy platform, General Clark has an attractive CV as candidate for the presidency or vice-presidency. Although he has always had the reputation of a highly "political" general, he has never been elected to any office.

No details from either side after the early meeting, but c'mon. You know it got brought up. While it may have been deemed premature by many, Dean has stayed one step ahead of the other candidates in almost every facet. Exploring a potential running mate several months prior to the primaries would work to Dean's advantage...again.

Clark doesn't want to be pigeonholed as a VP, so his campaign is attempting to paint this negatively in an effort to get some press. Smart folks. It isn't easy to get face time lately (Saddam, Lybia, etc.)

It did get brought up. Clark has nothing to gain from the VP story, while Dean needs Clark's credentials. So if you are correct, and I think you are, Clark is telling the truth.

Clark also gave a very honest recap on Inside Politics when he said that there was no dotted line, but Dean made the suggestion. Dean's campaign was very willing to make that assumption when it suited their purposes. Dean's denial of the obvious is curious.

Dean met with Clark and suggested they "join forces," complimented him mightily, indicated his admiration. He was hoping that Clark might avoid running himself, and just get on the Dean bandwagon.

Dean did not overtly offer the VP to Clark, but it was understood that by working together, Dean would do so when he was in a position to do so.

Dean has stated many times over many months that he is scrupulous about not "offering" the VP-ship to anybody at this point because it would be profoundly presumptuous to do so.

I agree that Dean absolutely needs Clark on the ticket with him. I also think that, at this point, Clark pretty much needs Dean as well, because Dean has the Big Mo and the Big Dough. The two together will be dynamite.

It's important that Cousin Howard avoid having this blow up into more than just a little fuss, and I'm sure he will skillfully do so.

It's gonna be Dean/Clark or Clark Dean, no matter what. Count on it.

We are gonna beat Bush's sorry ass back to Crawford.

non-issue.

I don't think Clark could make it any clearer. He said he is absolutely not interested in being Dean's VP or anyone’s for that matter.

He can just be one of the 'other eight that ran for president' in 2004.

Get your passports ready! :)

Cheney???

I was thinking mayby Tom DeLay...

After all, Joe won't want to run this country alone!

I still think Edwards would have a chance.

Have you seen him win over crowds who came to really listen and not to agree in lock-step?

Edwards could heal the party...but, I hope Dean and Clark do NOT destroy each other.

I completely disagree! Buy Dean saying he did not offer Clark the VP position it has caused an incredible amount of media attention and all the Dean people who were banking on a Dean/Clark dream ticket are wondering what is going on. Now everyone is wondering who was lying and who was telling the truth. The more people who see Dean by him self and not with Clark the less interesting Dean becomes because of his lack of National Security experience. Look at the reaction just on this board. Several people here are worried that the Dean/Clark dream team is gone. If we are seeing it here then it's happening all over. That can't help but hurt Dean and help Clark. Dean needs Clark but Clark does not need Dean and the more legs this story has the more trouble it will cause Dean. Right now the damage is small but it could get worse if Clark keeps bringing it up. A Dean/Kusennich ticket looks a little scary to me.

next, Dean has the right to his story. If he didn't offer the VP spot to Clark then that's that. And why is Clark making all this noise about it other than the National Polls are showing him going down, down, down because of Dean, Dean, Dean?!

Why is anyone talking VP in December??? the Convention is eight months away and No One is the nominee!

since August......in order to PLUG GAPING HOLES IN DEAN RESUME!
--------------------------
This is what I say about the VP problem Dean has!
Dean has everything to gain from the rumor as many are questioning Dean's Foreign policy experience and his regional appeal. There are many in New Hampshire currently talking about how Dean operatives are telling them that Clark will be the VP on the Dean ticket. Of course this serves two purposes; plugs the giant gaping hole in Dean's resume, and disuades voters from having to choose between Clark and Dean. Many news sources are available supporting the fact that this rumor was making headlines back in mid August and early September. I am sure you all remember, because it was such a short time ago.

I believe that General Wes Clark does not need Howard Dean to "plug a hole in his resume". It appears that Clark could select anyone of a large number of "qualified" individuals to run as VP on a ticket. He might look for someone with Washington insider ties who is well versed in domestic policies. That would be just about any of a multitude of congressional and former congressional member. Clark as a degree in economics, has taught economics at West Point and has had administrative experience as a Base Commander and as SACEUR. In my opinion CIC (Commander in Chief) experience is nontransferable.

On the other hand, Howard Dean has everything to gain only if he has the correct VP pick. Even then it is questionable if attaching someone to your side would make a compelling case. Unfortunately Dean is only 1/2 of a candidate. He lacks Foreign policy experience, appeal to the military, a regional moderate image, Coattails in the South, has a bad tax policy to run on in a campaign, and personally is not very appealing (the anger factor).

I don't believe that Howard Dean could find a VP that would somehow neutralize all of his liabilities.

Thereby we must pick the better man to go up against Bush. That is what we have all be working for and wanting for too long....to blow it now, based on an initial pick.......

that's what is important about this issue. I thought Dean said he would only lie if it was in reference to National Security matters....well this doesn't qualify:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/24/dean/
Dean launches 'Sleepless Summer Tour'
Would consider Wesley Clark as running mate
Monday, August 25, 2003 Posted: 11:28 AM EDT (1528 GMT)

Dean-Clark in 2004?
On Sunday, Dean told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that -- if nominated by his party -- he would consider tapping retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark as a vice presidential running mate.

"Yes," Dean said when asked whether he would consider asking the former NATO supreme commander to join his ticket.

"There would be a great many people, of course, that would be considered as a potential running mate. And I must say, I think it's much too early to discuss potential running mates. I mean, we're five months from the time the first official vote and delegate selection takes place.

"So I find it very premature. But I think Wes Clark, he's somebody I keep in close touch with. He's a terrific person, very bright, very capable, very thoughtful. Our views coincide on a number of matters, and he is -- I certainly can't say enough good things about him. It would be tough to run against him."

Clark, a former CNN military analyst, said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" he would make a decision on whether to run for president "in the next week or two."

CNN's Heather Riley contributed to this report
--------------------------

Lets put the time line in order:

1) Clark and Dean have private meeting since Dean has been talking to Clark for foreign policy advice. If Clark is going to run he does not benefit from the story of being Dean's VP. This is understood to be a private meeting.

2) LA Times carries a story about Clark being Dean's VP. Marshall suggests that the source is probably Trippi. No proof of this because it was to be a private meeting. Clark does not benefit from the story; Dean does.

3) WP carries a story about the VP leak and interviews Clark who says they talked about many issues...covered the horizon.

4) Low boil Clark as Dean's VP continues through out the fall. This does not benefit Clark; this does benefit Dean.

5) Clark speaks to Salon and says clearly he will not be Dean's VP.

6) Clark is asked by Geo. Steff. about the VP. Clark says he was asked, but has no interest. Stangely enough, Steff has Trippi waiting in the wings to deny the story. Benefit Dean in a he said he said.

7) Clark issues a rebuttal...what does Trippi know

8) Dean says it never happened.

9) Clark says it was informal...no signing on the dotted line, but the suggestion was made. Now Dean's followers calling Clark a liar.

Clark never had anything to gain by starting or continuing the story. Dean had everything to gain by lowering expectations for Clark, and covering his non-foreign policy butt.

Logic tells me Dean is lying. And it won't be the first time.

excellent work here!

Dean's asking Clark if he wouyld be interested in the VP slot or if he wanted to be VP during a conversation about Clark supporting Dean is NOT the same as Dean OFFERING him such a spot on the ticket.

I have to admit that Clark may have taken it that way while Dean only meant to ask if he was interested.

If Clark had said "I want to be your VP" and Dean said "support me and you will be" then it would be an offer.

It sounds to me like no offer was made but the idea was "floated" during the conversation.

From that perspective Clark is lying and Dean is telling the truth.

It reminds me of a girl I knew once who was asked by a boy if she wanted to be his girlfriend.

She thought he was asking her to be his girlfriend, but he was only asking if she WANTED to be (he had no interest in that proposition).

Point is: Clark may have taken it as an offer when he should not have.

It reminds me of Clark's assertion that if Rove had retruned his phone calls that he would have been running for Pres as a Republican.

I think Clark is fudging this story to hurt Dean and Dean is telling the truth: No offer was made and Clark is fudging the truth.

Dean asked Clark to be his boyfriend..."please General help plug this GAPING HOLE in my resume" but when Clark refused Dean told everyone else at Gerbil High that he was just pretending...

uh huh!

And alot of cowboy pictures that have nothing to do with Dean.
Where's your picture of Dean with a cowboy hat?
Saw your one with the cowboy gun with Dean.

Bet your thinking of some chaps next !
We know what's on yur mind.
This is not the place for your fantasies.

that Clark didn't intentionally bring up this can of worms.
He was asked about it in an interview, answered it truthfully, to the best of his recollection and probably forgot about the WHOLE thing as he went off to battle Tom "The Exterminator" DeLay's idiotic comments of the day.
Then Trippi sticks his big mouth in and makes it into a really BIG issue that really doesn't benefit anyone.
It makes people wonder if Clark is hunting for votes (when it was clear from the interview that he was merely answering a series of questions) and, on the Dean side, it points to his failures in foreign policy and takes away the Dean/Clark ticket so many Deanies (and I've heard you!!) dream of.
Seriously, it's a media-made spat and will be forgotten as soon as the Christmas turkey's eaten.

Newsnight November 12 with Wolf Blitzer substituting for Aaron Brown
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/12/asb.00.html

BLITZER: You told me a few months ago that you would seriously consider him as your running mate.
DEAN: I think that's true. He would be, certainly, on anybody's short list. He certainly has the ability to do that.

later in the transcript he repeats the offer.